Prewell's feelings at the moment were complicated. Those last words suddenly came out of his mouth.
Madeline was one of the few people Prewell considered close to him. In Prewell's life in this world, she was one of the people who never left Prewell's side, regardless of what his reputation was.
Maybe because he didn't want anything bad to happen to her as a friend, or could be because of something deeper. Nevertheless, Prewell before he remembered his previous life's memories, or Prewell after he remembered those memories, didn't want anything bad to happen to Madeline.
He was sure of this.
Order or nobility, no one could touch Madeline. It was better that she stays around him, rather than always worrying about when she is away.
Prewell looked at Madeline as she walked out. When Madeline reached the door, she turned around and looked at Prewell. She bowed again and left.
'Maybe I shouldn't treat myself like a foreigner in this world. The Prewell before and the Prewell of today are the same, except for an extra memory and a slight change in how I see the world. I am still Prewell Ih Leviathan.'
He looked at the last place where Madeline was, deep in thought, and let out a sigh.
His body leaned back in his chair, his arms hanging down. He closed his eyes, trying to push these things out of his mind.
"I have important things to attend to. For now, I should not delve with things regarding this, but in the future... I'll just let things go with the flow. Whatever happens in the future..."
________________________________________
A day has passed
In front of the gate of Waldr, There is a group of soldiers gathering. Armed with Spears, Maces, Shields, and Bows. Wearing armor made of leather and a barbute helmet made of iron.
These soldiers are waiting for their Lord.
*Taktaktak*
Horse hooves are heard. A carriage can be seen approaching the soldiers.
The carriage is made of hardwood from the Great Forest of Pluma, tough and resistant to blows. It provides protection that an ordinary wooden carriage couldn't.
Maroon in color, it has a sigil on both sides of the door. A winged snake, rising from the sea. The sigil of House Ih Leviathan. The monster that was slain by Saint Gerald became the heraldry of his house.
Four people on horseback are surrounding the carriage. Wearing brigandine armor and barbute helm with chain covering the neck area. Lances in hand, shields strapped at their arms, and maces at the hips.
Veteran soldiers from the period when the former baron was still in power. Behind the carriage were twenty soldiers of lesser quality following on foot, wearing padded armor, and a leather helm. Swords at their hips and shields at their arms. The guards of Madeline following her to Saint Gerald Castle.
After the last ambush that Prewell had experienced at the hands of the Goblins, he had decided to increase the number of soldiers accompanying him back to his Castle. One hundred men, thirty-six from his previous retinue, and sixty-four from Waldr's reserve.
This did not include the four men on horseback and Madeline's twenty personal guards. A strong retinue that should be able to deal with small goblin bands.
Inside the carriage, Prewell could be seen sitting, holding a book with numbers written on it. This was Waldr's treasury book, showing the expenses and income of Port Town.
In front of Prewell was Madeline with her elbow resting by the window and hands supporting her head. She was looking outside and observing the surroundings as the carriage moved.
Other than the turning sound of pages, only Prewell and Madeline's breathing can be heard. Silence, both of them like silence.
No need for any words spoken. Just sitting in this small confined space is enough for both of them. Doing their own individual work as they accompany each other, it satisfies them and deepens their connection.
As the two were in their own world.
The carriage drove straight towards the waiting soldiers and slowed down. The soldiers followed the carriage in an organized manner.
Some went to the front, others to the side. Surrounding the carriage as they lead it towards its destination.
From here, the journey home to Saint Gerald's Castle began.
________________________________________
SaintGeraldCastle
A while ago, a messenger from Waldr came and delivered an urgent letter.
Ecish received Prewell's message about the compensation for the soldiers who perished at the crossroads ambush.
This message also includes the planned incursion of the territory against the goblins.
He exhaled, then he took out a small piece of paper, wrote a list of names on it, and shouted towards the door.
"Tom! Come here." A flurry of steps was heard, then a thin man, his bones visible from his extreme thinness, appeared before Ecish.
"What can I do for you, Sir Ecish?" Tom, the thin man asked.
"Find out the family details of each soldier listed on this paper, then report it to me." Ecish handed over a small paper with the names of Prewell's dead soldiers.
Tom nodded and then left
Ecish, alone in the room, thought.
'My lord is a cold man on the outside but warm on the inside, even though few people experience the Lord's warmth, it cannot be denied that his warmth for those selected few is real.
I hope my Lord is okay. This is the first time that someone has died under him while he was the one leading.'
Ecish stood up and walked towards the window.
'Goblin Incursion, there has been no such event in Zalsac in a long time. Events like this last occured when Lord Prewell's grandfather was still the one sitting in the position of Baron... Zalsac has been quiet for a long time, now the problems surrounding it are beginning to show. How will Lord Prewell deal with these issues.'
Shaking his head regarding the matter, Ecish stared at the people below the castle.
Thinking of the voices of concern he heard from the before, he began to consider another matter that must be dealt with.
'Another thing is that Lord Prewell is about to turn eighteen, he should have been engaged for a long time. But because of his stubbornness the old lord was unable to find a match, to this day, he still doesn't have a partner.
Lord Arguile died two years ago when Lord Prewell was only fifteen.
Since then, no one has reminded the Lord about the matter of continuing the family line.
The Barony of Zalsac needs an heir. Otherwise, the people will be in a constant state of fear regarding their future in the barony.
There are only a handful of nobles as good as the Lord with his people, now the people are beginning to get worried because of the lack of heir in the territory…
If something happened to the Lord, who will be the next Baron of Zalsac. Will their lives be as good under the leadership of the new baron.
Now to keep the people from worrying, I, Ecish the loyal butler. Have to report this matter to the Lord.'
Suddenly, a smile with bad intentions appeared on Ecish's face.
'What reaction would Lord Prewell show when he learns that his people are urging for him to get married. Hahaha, either way, any reaction is good. The important thing is that there is an expression on the Lord's face.'
'I wonder what would the Lord looks like when he is annoyed or when he is embarrassed. Hehehe, I can't wait find to find out.'
Ecish in the middle of his delusion, smiled to himself
________________________________________
Delberg
Inn, Tumbling Lorrie
In a room at the very corner of the second floor, a conversation is taking place.
"I have the list of names of those who bought weapons, armor, and horses in the last month. These people are preparing to rebel against the Order, Sir Conrad.
Almost all the members of the nobility in the central part of the Order's territory are included. But they are only low-ranking members. The high-ranking members of the nobility are still quiet.
Perhaps, with their wealth and accumulated resource, they can probably make their own weapons to arm their soldiers. They also have their horse breeding facilities. I don't think they will be as noisy as these people if they plan to rebel." A man bowing wearing a black robe spoke, his head and hands covered.
The person he was having a conversation with was a man with red hair and green eyes, topless while drinking wine from a glass cup.
"Ah, that's what the Order expects, those dying old men, except for the preservation of their family, they don't care who rules over them. Order or Empire, it makes no difference." Knight Conrad smiled.
"Louis, what news do you have about the part of the nobility that has not taken any action?"
While Louis bowed, he told Conrad what he knew.
"Abel, Durlton, and Cornelius, these three houses on the left part of the Order's territory, have begun guarding the border of their land. Perhaps true to their usual neutral approach to things. They plan to stay out of the chaos.
The Ih Leviathan and Zalbaag in the north remain quiet, but perhaps not for long. According to the news, I received a month ago. Orlando Zalbaag has one foot in the coffin. It is expected that there will be a succession war between his three children.
The Ih Leviathan is busy with their usual maritime trading, and constant battle with the monsters in the Great Forest of Pluma."
Louis was silent for a short time.
"As for Regulus, Wallace, and Armecia, on the right part of the Order's territory. They have become silent as of late, but there is a piece of news floating around that House Wallace has begun taking out the Church's people in their Land.
It is possible that if a rebellion happens, these three houses will join the rebels and... they may have already killed people who are affiliated with the Order within their territory. That's all I know, Sir Conrad. I will let you know if other news arrives."
Conrad waved his hand. Indicating the Louis can leave the room.
Louis saw this, he stood up, turned to the door and left.
Conrad left alone, a smile appearing in his eyes as he spoke.
"Order or Nobility, heh, just a small part in the big scheme of thing. HAHAHA, what would you do if you found out that the Empire is preparing to attack you. Perhaps by the time you've all realized, every semblance of order is gone in this land."
"Hehehe, but to be on the safer side, let me further disrupt this land. After all, isn't this what you want, my goddess?"
On the wall, a painting bearing an image of a goddess wearing a black robe, filled with golden marking.
The ground where the goddess stood filled with blood, as her dainty touches the crimson liquid. Holding a heart in one hand and a blade in another. An image filled with malice, yet gives an intense amount of pleasure to those whose gaze falls upon it.
Conrad's gaze staring at the painting with fiery heat as he licked his lips, with a pleasure filled voice, he uttered the name of the being his fate belonged to.
"My goddess, Goddess of all Evil, Minerva"